Superstar talent from across New England will converge on the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston this weekend — and top athlete from the Eagle-Tribune region are ready to make a splash against the best.
Local talent from Massachusetts and New Hampshire are set to hit the track — and a few are favorites to find the podium — at the New England Track and Field Championship on Saturday (1 p.m.)
“It’s a huge event with lots and lots of talent and ridiculous times,” said Greater Lawrence star Gustavo Varela. “Hopefully I have a shot at placing this year. I’m very excited to represent Massachusetts and Lawrence!”
A week after taking second at Meet of Champions — the highest finish ever for a Reggie — Varela is the No. 7 seed in the 55-meter dash (6.44).
“I’m hoping for a top 5-finish,” said Varela. “I’ll also have a slight advantage because I’ve raced in Reggie Lewis, where all our event were hosted all winter.”
Leading the region is the No. 1-seeded Central Catholic girls 4×400 relay team of Kyle Breslin, Emma Finch, Leighton Hickey and anchor Avery Strickler, who surged to the Meet of Champions title (4:00.11) last week.
“Our 4×4 team is really excited for New Englands this weekend and the strong competition it brings,” said Breslin. “We’re going in hoping to compete for the win, but we’re also trying to break our school record of 3:59.”
Added Finch: “We know there will be great competition. After running 4:00.1 to win last week, our goal is sub-4:00, which we definitely think we’re capable of running. We are excited to see what we run!”
But they aren’t the only Raiders.
Arianna DiPietro is seeded fifth in the 55-meter hurdles (8.28), after placing second last week.
“I’m going into New Englands with more confidence and trust in myself,” she said. “My last race at Meet of Champs, I wasn’t feeling my best during warm-ups and then didn’t perform how I would have liked in the finals. My focus now’s on my own performance, not so much placing, and hoping to get a personal best. If I get a good explosive start, that will set me up for a great performance.”
Central has two top-10 entries in the high jump, with Peter Thomas seeded seventh (6-4) and Carlos Quintana eighth (6-4).
“I’m very honored to represent Central Catholic heading into New Englands this weekend,” said Thomas, who was seeded 11th and finished third last week. “I’m really excited for the opportunity to see how I stack up against the best high jumpers in the region and see what it takes to compete at such a high level!”
Quintana is coming off a big fifth-place finish at the MSTCA Indoor Pentathlon on Thursday, where he won the high jump.
“I feel great,” said Quintana. “I had a hiccup last week at Meet of Champions (placing fourth), but I’m already past that. At the end of the day, I’m the best jumper in Massachusetts, and I’m going into Saturday with a plan to be the best high jumper in New England. Not No. 2 or No. 3, I want the gold and I’m doing everything I can to win it.”
Timberlane’s Danielle Bates will look to defend her New England title in the high jump, after winning it last spring. She enters Saturday seeded fourth (5-6). Her Owls teammate Charlotte Beaudoin is seeded fifth in the 600 (1:35.40).
“I’m a mix of excited and nervous for the level of competition this weekend,” said Bates.
Pinkerton features a pair of top-5 seeds, with Joseph Gustavson No. 3 in the 600 (1:21.31) an Jason Robie No. 2 in the 2-mile (9:15.72).
“Going into this weekend I’m very exited to be able to race against the best in New England,” said Gustavson. “I’m really looking forward to the 600 with all of the top times being so close, it will be a fight for sure. I’m also looking forward to seeing how well the rest of our athletes will perform.”
Pelham’s Osinachi Nwabueze is taking the day off from basketball to contend for the long jump title. The New Hampshire champ is seeded No. 6 (22-9.5). He placed fourth at outdoor New Englands last spring (21-11.5).
“I’m feeling confident headed into the weekend,” he said. “Right now I’m seeded at a podium spot, but I know anything could happen so I don’t want to get complacent.”
A trio of local powers will be represented by a relay. Andover’s girls 4×200 team of Leah Sun, Alanna Fleming, Lavanya Suresh and Clare Pawlus is seeded eighth (1:45.77), while the North Andover boys 4×800 of Aiden Siwicki, Nicolas FloresQuero Llamas, Ian Adome and Brogan Zwinggi is seeded fifth (8:05.40) and the Haverhill girls 4×400 of Avery Lescord, Madison Croft, Aleigh Gonzalez and Emmalynn Proia is seeded eighth (4:07.78).
Methuen superstar Lauren Quarm would no doubt be at the top of the 55-meter dash rankings, had she not suffered a leg injury last week.
Finally, Salem is represented by Lucas Gomez in the 2-mile (No. 21, 9:37.74), while Windham is led by Brynn Johnson in the shot put (No. 21, 35-5.25).
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